In this post, I will write about our 3-days weekend break. Last week, my family, together with 4 other family and friends, packed our bags and traveled out of our city. I would like to share some of our pictures and tips for traveling by land
Tip #1 Choose what is the best time to travel. For me, I would like to travel by night or after midnight. One reason is the kids could just sleep through the duration of the trip. They are not as fussy, you know. Another reason is that it is colder to travel at night and there are no traffic. But then, be sure to consider that the one driving, in this case my husband, should have had time to sleep prior to the trip. Otherwise, he might fall asleep while driving. If you like sightseeing though, you may want to travel by day.
We left our house at 2:00 am. The kids immediately went to sleep because they felt like being rocked/swayed to sleep in the car. The trip was 4-5 hours long traveling at an average speed of 100-110 kph. My husband tried hard not to fall asleep. Stopping at intervals in gas stations, sipping a cup of coffee, helped keep him awake. At sunrise, this is the sight that awakened us. It's very rare that I get to see this and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Sunrise
Tip #2 Be sure to know your destination. People used to rely on road maps when traveling. But today, there is a more high tech solution to knowing the way to your destination. Using a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a person can know the twists and turns to get to his destination.
Two of our friends have a GPS gadget. They only need to input the coordinates of our destination and it shows them where to go. With this gadget, for sure, you will reach your destination. If you make a wrong turn, it will automatically recalculate and direct you back to the right way. The only downside is if you don't know the place you're going, even if you have this gadget, at times you don't get to use the shortcut. We actually went through different paths during our travel even if we're supposed to go to the same destination simply because we followed the lead of the GPS receiver.
GPS receiver. Image from Wikipedia.
Tip#3 It is better to travel in a caravan. If you can get other people to join you in your getaway, it is much better. Not only would it be twice the fun bonding with other people while visiting new places, but also, if ever something goes wrong, you can have someone to help you. It happened that one of the vehicles in our caravan had a problem with its alternator. It is a good thing that we are together because the passengers of that car got to ride in the other vehicles.
Tip #4 Bring what you need in the car. For a long drive with kids on board, it is a must to bring food and drinks in case they get hungry in the middle of nowhere. We also brought some pillows to make lying down more comfortable. For emergency calls of nature, we also brought a portable urinal and potty. You just don't know if you will reach the next gas station before the kids say they have to go. Stopping anywhere along the way may not be advisable also.
Tip #5 Don't forget to bring your camera. Who wouldn't want to take shots of the beautiful places visited with the wonderful people in your life? Also, there may be some really interesting sights to see. Here are some of the shots I've taken along the way using my Olympus Point and Shoot camera. You don't get to see desert mountains everyday. We also visited one of these up close and went inside its caves. It was really an awesome work of nature!
Desert mountains.
The teens who went with us to see the desert mountains up close.
The kids enjoyed going inside the caves.
Exploring the caves. Some people call this Judas' caves.
We also went to the beach but since I enjoyed myself playing in the sand with my kids, I didn't take any pictures. My husband did with his camera but he hasn't had the chance to download them.
This is not the beach we went to but one that is along the way.
By the way, you might want to know the features of your camera so that you can take better shots. Most of my shots are very poor. I just edited it using Lightroom to make it look better. I wish I had used my husband's DLSR to take some of the shots like this far away group of camels.
Yup! These are camels. They are so far away that they were so blurred. Got it to look better using Lightroom.
Lastly, don't forget to charge your camera batteries. Our weekend was tiring, but we had great fun.
I had the opportunity of homeschooling my 3 children before they went to a community school. Until now, I have stayed in touch through newsletter subscription to these websites and resources that have helped me in homeschooling my kids. I just want to share some of the freebies for homeschoolers which I think can help moms or dads fulfill this endeavor.
Free eBook From CLASS Homeschools!
CLASS (Christian Liberty Academy School System) is the homeschool system wherein I enrolled my children as homeschool students and got the curriculum from. I definitely recommend them for providing quality, Bible-based curriculum and excellent support.
They are giving a free eBook titled Training Children in Godliness. This book provides parents and other adults insight on child training in Christian values. This book can give more understanding on the aspect for guiding children in the path of righteousness. I have read a hardcopy of this eBook. If you want to get a free copy of this eBook, just like CLASS Facebook Fan page. They are also planning to give a free eBook from time to time to anyone who "Likes" their fan page.
Free homeschool curriculum Spelling course
Teaching the children how to properly spell words needs a system. I like the books on Spelling included in my children's CLASS curriculum. It is very systematic and I think it really helped prepare them to spell words right. Anyway, that is not free (but you can check out the Spelling book for Grade 1 here, it's only $8). But if you want some free Spelling course, you can find one here.
Free homeschool curriculum for teaching kids about Health
A curriculum teaching specifically about health was not included in the CLASS curriculum when I was teaching my children. But I found this site called KidsHealth in the Classroom. It offers free kid's health guide and materials from preschool to Grade 12 on a variety of subject areas under the topic of health. Each Teacher's Guide includes discussion questions, activities, and reproducible handouts and quizzes – all aligned to national health education standards. Sign-up for their newsletter and they will update you with their latest teacher's guide like this Healthy Snacking guide I received in my inbox.
I hope these resources would be helpful to you. Have a blessed day!
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.
I must admit, I am not a very frequent user of cell phones. That is why I just bought a SIM card that never expires and only preloaded it with some call credits for emergencies. When I need to make a phone call, I either use the landline or borrow my husband's mobile phone. He has more call credits.
But I can already foresee that soon, we would have to set aside a little more for our cell phone budget. Just the other day, my daughter asked me "Can I use your cell phone to call my classmate?" I'm pretty sure sooner or later, she would be demanding to have her own cell phone. And when she does, you know what that means - additional budget. When that time comes, I would consider finding a wireless cell phone provider that is Affordable, Flexible and Dependable somewhat like Straight Talk.
What makes Straight Talk affordable? Straight Talk uses the tag line "Cut your cell phone bill in half and feel richer." I don't know if I would feel richer if I can cut our cell phone bill in half, but definitely, it would help provide the needs of my family of 7 especially my kids' education expenses.
Straight Talk offers two types of plans which are cheaper than what other providers charge. (1) The "All you need" plan costs $30 per month and comes with 1000 minutes, 1000 SMS/MMS, 30 MB of data transfer (about 350 web pages) for internet users and free 411 calls. (2) The "Unlimited" plan costs $45 per month and you can use it for calls, text, mobile web access and 411 calls as much as you need. Take note that there are no activation, reactivation, termination fees or surprise bills with Straight Talk.
What makes Straight Talk flexible? Other wireless cell phone providers require you to sign a contract to use their services, but then you're locked in to the plan and the phone for two years or more. Since there are no contracts to sign with Straight Talk, it is very easy to change plans. It's up to you if you want the "All you need" plan this month and the "Unlimited" plan next month. It's also easy to change phones. You can use the kind of mobile phone you want like LG, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung. If you're tight on the budget, you can choose the cheaper reconditioned phone or when you want to pamper yourself, you can get the high-end smart phones like the Samsung Galaxy Precedent (check the Android on Straight Talk).
Lastly, what makes Straight Talk dependable? Straight Talk offers great nationwide coverage so wherever State you are, you can use the service without any hassle. It has excellent reception and connectivity. You don't have to experience again becoming annoyed when you Call a friend and it gets cut or when you just can't understand the person talking on the other end of the line?
If you can't believe Hook, line and sinker about how good Straight Talk is, then just see how this man feels about having Straight Talk.
I read this article by Dave carpenter which mentioned that according to a 2010 survey by LIMRA (Life Insurance and Market Research Association), 30% of U.S. households do not have any life insurance coverage whatsoever. In the Philippines, the statistics is lower. Daxim L. Lucas in his blog post wrote "Only 15% of Filipinos have life insurance."
Obviously, not everyone has a life insurance policy. So, is there a reason to be jolly about getting one? What are the benefits of having a life insurance policy?
1. It helps to plan for sudden loss of lives. Dave Carpenter said that parents with children under 18 years old should have a life insurance so that the children would not be financially distressed when the parents die due to unforeseen events.
2. It helps to shoulder the cost of your own death. If one's children are all grown up, the parents may still consider to have a life insurance to cover the expenses of their own funeral. This will alleviate the family left behind from the financial burden associated with death.
Basically, those are the two major reasons for getting a life insurance policy. However, I am surprised to know that there are different types of life insurance. I'm quite familiar with term life insurance for which a person pays a monthly premium for a certain period of say 5 years. When he dies during the term of the policy, the beneficiaries receive the face value of the policy.
3. It helps to have forced savings. Another type of life insurance is the permanent life insurance which is also called cash value policy. In this type of life insurance, you pay a higher premium than a term life policy but your policy accumulates cash value over time. This accumulated cash value can be withdrawn, borrowed or used to pay the premium by the owner. Some of the types of permanent life insurance include the whole life plans, universal plans and variable life plans. Though this may not be the best way to invest or save money, it can be an option.
Not everyone can afford to purchase a life insurance plan. But for those who can and who want to, it is important to know which plan best fits your budget and your needs. Talking to a consultant in this field and getting life insurance quotes from reputable life insurance companies can help you make your decision.
What do you think about getting yourself a life insurance policy?
I did not receive a review copy of this book The Amazing Fitness Adventure for Your Kids by Phil and Amy Parham. But I would like to share with you the free first chapter of the book which can be read by scrolling below. There are a lot of points to ponder on when you read it which can greatly improve the lives of your children and your family. By the way, Phil and Amy Parham were former contestants in The Biggest Loser.
Three of the important points that resonated with me after reading the chapter are:
Parents must be good models to their kids when it comes to living healthy. They would not live and eat healthy if we, parents, do not.
Teaching our kids to live healthy - eating right and exercising, will give them a better life. It affects not only their physical health but also their school performance, their confidence, their ability to socialize, their dreams, their whole life.
Health problems like obesity, diabetes and heart problems that are affecting children now and when they are grown up are not solely due to genetics. Unhealthy habits like eating mostly fast-food and processed foods and
inactivity caused by spending too much time watching TV or playing video
games, are the culprit.
Parents need to say No and to make a sacrifice today to invest in the health of their children. Health is wealth, right? Want to find out how healthy are your kids? Go over the checklist in the last part of the free chapter below and you can more or less assess if your kids are living a healthy life or not. If they are, congratulations! If not, then it's time to make a change. I, myself, have a couple of areas that I need to work on.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Harvest House Publishers; 1 edition (September 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Karri James, Marketing Assistant, Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Phil and Amy Parham, authors of The 90-Day Fitness Challenge and The 90-Day Fitness Challenge DVD, were contestants on Season 6 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Over a seven-month period, they recorded the highest percentage of weight loss of any couple in the program’s history. Married for more than 20 years, Phil and Amy live in South Carolina with their three boys, Austin, Pearson, and Rhett.
The Amazing Fitness Adventure for Your Kids equips parents with the tools they need to help their children become healthier and happier. It’s also an inspirational guide to the ultimate rewards that come from sharing a healthy lifestyle together—stronger and healthier kids and more closely knit families.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; 1 edition (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736939210
ISBN-13: 978-0736939218
AND NOW...THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS:
1
Dream Big!
A Word from Amy
When Phillip and I returned home from The Biggest Loser ranch, we experienced the beginning of an amazing physical transformation. All of our friends, families, and fans of the show had a slew of questions for us. “How did you do it?” “What was it like?” “Was it hard to do?” But two questions we were repeatedly asked stuck out in our mind—“Wasn’t it hard to leave your kids while going on the show?” and “Where were your kids during that time?”
At the time we were chosen as contestants for The Biggest Loser, Austin was 12 years old, Pearson was 10, and Rhett was 8. Trust me, it wasn’t easy to leave them for three months. Phillip and I gave a lot of thought to the impact our departure would have on them before we even considered trying out for the show. Although we competed to better our health, we knew that in doing so, we would better the physical, emotional, and even spiritual health of our family as a whole. Ultimately, in many ways, we did the show for our kids.
Phillip’s sister, Joan, was a major influence in persuading us to try out for The Biggest Loser, and she even offered to watch our boys during the time we were away. If it weren’t for her, we probably would have never even considered undertaking the opportunity. Joan had been concerned about our health for quite some time. She was also a big fan of the show and was the first person who encouraged me to watch it. I was resistant at first because I didn’t know the premise behind it. I initially believed it was a show that made fun of fat people, but I quickly discovered I was wrong. The Biggest Loser isn’t simply a reality TV show where contestants compete against each other to lose weight. I like to think of it as a powerful tool that helps forever change the lives of individuals and families.
During our absence, our boys were cared for by Joan and her husband, John, who have three boys similar in age to ours. My children and their family quickly formed a Brady Bunch of sorts. The cousins shared a tight-knit bond, and many wonderful memories were created that my boys still talk about today. We were so fortunate to have Joan and John—as well as my parents, sisters Allyson and Donna, and loving neighbors—who made tremendous personal sacrifices in order for Phillip and me to have the opportunity to transform our lives for the better.
Dreaming Big for Our Family
While we were gone, I felt incomplete because I missed our boys terribly. You can’t imagine how difficult it was to know that my husband and I wouldn’t be in contact with them for an undetermined amount of time. Our saving grace was knowing our family was taking good care of our children, and they were in the best hands we could have asked for. During the show, Phillip and I were also fortunate to win a particular contest where the prize was a phone call to our boys and a 24-hour visit home to see them.
However challenging it was for us to be away from our boys for so long, we knew the reward was greater than the price we were paying. This was a time we had to sacrifice for our family and take care of ourselves so we could become better role models for our kids. Not only that, but we also had to take care of our physical health so we could stick around for them.
Phillip and I were morbidly obese, and at the rate we were going, we had some serious health risks. I especially thought of Rhett and his autism and his need for special care. He needed us around for a long time. If Phillip or I had a heart attack or suffered from a life-threatening ailment because of our obesity, what would happen to our boys? Nobody wants to think about those kinds of things, but we had no choice. Phillip and I had to face some hard facts in order to reevaluate our priorities and make positive change.
Being on the show was a step in the direction of dreaming big for our family. We wanted the best for us and for them. Sometimes dreaming big as a parent means taking time for ourselves. That can be a hard thing for some folks. Many parents fear that when they focus on themselves, their children will deem them selfish and become resentful or spiteful. But this is not true when you commit to making changes that ultimately benefit your entire family. (I’m not talking about spending money reserved for paying bills on a fancy car you don’t need or not helping your child with homework because you have to get your nails done. I’m talking about making good choices that will exact positive change.)
Phillip and I were not the best role models when it came to eating right and exercising regularly, but it was time to change all those bad habits into good ones. And it took time for us apart from our children to get the ball rolling. When we came back from The Biggest Loser ranch, we found that our family was reenergized by the changes we had made in our lives. When we changed, our children wanted to change too. They wanted to follow our example and dream big for their own lives. This meant making changes in their health.
Making Changes
There was no doubt that we had to do an about-face with many of the lifestyle habits in our home. The biggest area that needed a major overhaul was nutrition. Our boys got an introductory course in good health when family members took care of them. I believe this prepared them for our return and transformation. Joan and John are excellent parents and provide a great example of what a fit and healthy family should be. While our boys were under their care, Joan kept a close watch on what they ate and limited their snacks. They weren’t used to this in the Parham household.
Before our weight-loss experience, we had poor eating habits as a family. We ate fast food almost every day, and our meals outside of the drive-thru were usually processed foods. Convenience always trumped nutritional content. We were (and still are) a busy family on a budget, so it made the most sense to eat fast and cheap. I thought I was doing my kids a favor. At least that’s what the TV commercials led me to believe. I’m sure you’ve seen the advertisements for boxed meals that require only one or two “real” ingredients. They picture a doting mom, happy kids, and a warm meal that took no time to whip up. It was cheap, easy, and tasted great. This was something I could do, I thought. Look at me, I’m a good mom!
For most of my life, I bought into this lie hook, line, and sinker. I didn’t realize that providing my children with meals and snacks low in nutrition was negatively affecting their energy levels, mental focus, and overall health. I didn’t realize that not feeding them with foods designed to fuel their body meant they would not function at their best. I didn’t realize that fatty, greasy, and salty foods would not just make them feel bad in the long run, but would increase their chances of getting sick later on. After being on the show, Phillip and I understood how critical it is to teach our kids good nutrition habits and provide a solid framework for good health that will ultimately help them be successful in life.
As a working mother, I also carried a lot of guilt for not spending enough time with my sons. One way I soothed my guilt was by giving them sugary or salty treats like cookies, candy, and chips. I worked a lot to help provide financially for my family, and I thought I had to “make it up” to my kids. I wanted to be one of the moms you see on TV who greets her children from school wearing fashionable clothes, sporting perfectly styled hair, and holding out a plate of freshly made chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth. I was no such mother. On the days I couldn’t be home when they returned from school, I left them a bag of packaged cookies they could snack on in my absence.
You might relate. Do you feel that you’re not giving enough time or energy to your children and ease your guilt by giving them forbidden snacks? If you miss a baseball practice or dance recital, do you make it up by letting your son or daughter eat something they really shouldn’t? Are you so busy doing the million things most of us do that focusing on good nutrition is just not a priority?
Do you not even have the time to think about how poor eating habits will affect your children 5, 10, or 20 years from now? Maybe you think of illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes as “grown up” problems. I know I did. I thought my kids had plenty of time before they had to worry about those issues. I figured they needed to grow up first, and then they could pay attention to what they ate and what kind of exercise they got. This is poor thinking.
I believe this comes from the mind-set that going on a “diet” is reserved for adults. Now, dieting is not the answer for children or for adults. Dieting denotes something that you go on and come off of. It’s about restricting food and eating in a way that is temporary and can’t be continued for life. We should think about being healthy and fit. We need to permanently change our habits to healthy ones. This applies to adults and children. The truth is, kids who have healthy habits growing up have a better chance of sustaining a healthy lifestyle as they get older.
We need to make small changes every day that can add up to a new life. Whether it’s saying yes to natural foods and no to processed foods or going for a walk instead of watching TV, the little things we do accumulate into a future worth having. A future that is healthy and makes you feel good inside and out. A future worth dreaming about.
We need to encourage our children that when they are healthy, they gain a better life. They can do more things and they can think more clearly. They will have more energy to be active. They will have better mental focus and get better grades. They will feel stronger and not get sick as much.
It’s a win-win situation. Gaining health is a positive process that will help them succeed in whatever they do. It will give them the confidence to live as if the sky is the limit and to know that their dreams are within reach.
When Dreams Die
Our children don’t need poor health to stand in the way of a great life. They need to give their dreams a chance to blossom. They need to be unencumbered from feeling tired, sluggish, or moody—things that come from making poor health choices—in order to dream big. Their ability to “go for it” should never be restricted by their size, physical-fitness level, or because of a negative self-image.
Childhood should be a time of dreaming, yet here’s a sobering reality. Childhood obesity has become so prevalent that it has tempered our children’s potential to dream big. This condition has locked them in a prison built with forks and spoons. Poor health prevents them from attempting new things.
As a parent, I know this may be a tough pill for you to swallow, especially if you have allowed bad lifestyle choices to rule your home. But don’t be discouraged. This is not the time to question your parenting skills, feel sorry for yourself, or give up. This is a time for change!
Today you can commit to creating a healthy lifestyle for your family. Today you can make sure your child’s future is not limited by poor eating or exercising habits. Today you can lead your children in this “Challenge” to become healthier. And today, you can embark on a new adventure to witness your children gain confidence, feel better about themselves, and dream big.
When I was a girl, I struggled with weight. I gave up on many dreams because of that battle. Here’s one I’ll never forget. Like most teenage girls, I wanted to be a cheerleader. I remember feeling so out of place during the first tryout because I was the chubbiest girl there. My confidence level hit rock bottom, and I dropped out before I even had the chance to try out. I had many similar experiences.
I was always picked last when teams were selected for gym. I never raised my hand in class because I was afraid the other kids would laugh at me. I shied away from any physical activity at school because I was so big and doing the simplest things exhausted me. Because of my weight, my self-esteem suffered. I wasn’t carefree and having fun. I was miserable.
I became comfortable with not taking risks and not taking a stab at doing new things; it was safer not to even try. Sadly, this mind-set stayed along for the ride as I grew up and entered adulthood. It was a tough mentality to break, but through losing weight and working on my emotional and mental health, I was able to break free from harmful thinking. And as I like to say, I am not a fat girl anymore; I’m a fit girl.
You too have the power to change. You can make better decisions that afford your children the chance to dream big, create a future full of possibilities, and shine.
Don’t get wrapped up in the guilt of feeling you haven’t done enough for your children or haven’t helped them make the right choices. Guilt is a wasted emotion. Guilt will keep you emotionally paralyzed so that you won’t do anything to change your circumstances. Guilt will not change a single thing, but here’s the light at the end of the tunnel—taking a step in the right direction will.
Taking the First Step
Decisions pave the way to making dreams come true. Making the right decisions will change the course of your life and the life of your children. When Phillip and I decided to go on The Biggest Loser, we had to move heaven and earth to make it happen. We had to sell our cars and major household items so that my family would have enough money to operate while we were gone. I had to leave my children. I had to endure the physical, emotional, and mental process, which was grueling at times. None of these things were fun or convenient. None of these things were easy. But the payoff was amazing and totally worth it.
Former Boy Scout administrator Forest Witcraft once wrote, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a boy.” When I worked as an early childhood director at my church, I printed those words on bookmarks and gave them to all the volunteers who worked with me. The bookmarks were one way I reminded them that their sacrifice would last long after they were gone.
As a parent, you need to constantly remind yourself of that same truth. What you sacrifice today when it comes to your children will still be paying off long after you leave this earth. You have the power to affect their future for the better. You have the power to influence what their legacy will be. You have the power to commit to bettering the health of your household. I know you are ready to make this change because you are already reading this book. I am confident you want the best for your children and that you want to see their dreams come true.
Yes, sometimes dreaming big dreams requires overcoming big challenges. Don’t worry. We will help you along the way. Believe me, we have had to work our way through many challenges that could have stopped us cold. Our book will equip you with knowledge, tools, and inspiration so you can move any mountains that may stand in your way of creating a healthy home.
Think about what dreaming big as a family looks like to you. Maybe it’s as simple as eating better and exercising more. Maybe you want to lose a few pounds to have more energy to play with your daughter. Maybe you want to improve your health because you just got diagnosed with diabetes or another serious disease. Maybe you want to incorporate fitness into your family life and start running 5Ks together. Whatever it is, dreaming big means improving the quality of your family life. And that will guarantee a brighter future.
Today, take the first step and commit to making your children’s health a priority so that you can see their dreams come true. It only takes a simple decision to change your life and your future.
Walk with us on this journey and let’s dream big together!
2
Face the Facts
A Word from Amy
Dreaming is fun, isn’t it? It is such a big first step in your new adventure of gaining better health. After we dust off our box of hidden dreams, the next critical step is to face some facts. And some of them might not be pretty.
You are reading this book because you believe you and your family will benefit from this fitness challenge. This means some poor habits are in place that you need to change. You might acknowledge that you need to be healthier, but for whatever reason you give your kids more slack. You might be thinking one or more of the following thoughts:
Why do I need to concern myself with what my kids eat and how much exercise they get?
Is it really so bad that they eat fast food? They get to be kids only once, after all! Let them live a little, right? Since when did a little fast food hurt anybody?
What’s wrong with letting my kids play video games, play on the computer, and watch television after school? They work hard all day. Shouldn’t they be able to veg out in front of the TV to unwind? Everyone needs a little break.
What’s the harm in having a little baby fat? They’ll eventually grow out of it. I mean, really, what’s the big deal?
Prior to our health transformation, I used to be defensive when it came to our family’s health habits. So if you’re feeling the same way, I understand.
The Facts
Before we deal with some of these questions, let’s get some facts straight. Childhood obesity is an epidemic. It has almost tripled in the last 30 years. The 2008 “Facts for Families” report published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry remarked that an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2–19 years are obese. This unhealthy weight gain in our children stems from poor nutrition and inactivity.
A child is considered obese when her weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for her height and body type. Studies have shown that an obese child between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.
Though these facts are eye-opening and disturbing, the trend can be stopped. Childhood obesity is preventable if we work on changing to a healthy lifestyle. If an obese child has a greater chance of becoming an obese adult, you can see what a big deal it is for parents to model and implement healthy habits in the home as early as possible.
Contrary to what many people believe, obesity and weight gain do not come solely from genetics or biology. Most of our unhealthy habits come from behaviors we learn in our culture and in our home. And sadly, many of these behaviors are harmful to our health—from the plethora of fast-food restaurants, to the indulgence of processed foods, to the inactivity caused by spending too much time watching TV or playing video games.
Creating a healthy lifestyle in the home may be a challenge, especially if you have not maintained good nutrition or fitness goals for a long time, but it is doable and it is imperative if you want to raise a healthy family.
Priorities! Priorities! Priorities!
Give me a break, Phil and Amy. I’m a busy parent. I can’t do everything perfectly. Nobody’s perfect!
This might be your thought as you find yourself in the fast-food restaurant drive-thru for the fifth time this week. Sure, you’d rather be like Betty Crocker and put a hot meal on the table every night, but really, who does that anymore? Who has the time?
So many of us justify our actions when it comes to our kids’ diet and exercise habits because we are simply overwhelmed with all of our other responsibilities. Most of us have more than enough to do during the day. We work full- or part-time, spend time with our kids doing homework, manage their after-school activities, clean our house, make time for our friends, meet our spouse’s needs, volunteer in the schools or community, go to church. And that’s just a few items in the long laundry list (oh, did I mention laundry?) most of us have.
It’s much easier to go to the drive-thru after school for a quick meal or pick up a pizza after baseball practice than to sit home cooking. And I know how easy it is, when you do find an afternoon that’s free, to stick your kids in front of the TV or put a video controller in their hand while you take a nap or watch a movie instead of going to the park as a family. The thought of adding more things, like exercise and making your own snacks and meals, to our ever-growing to-do list is exhausting.
Trust me, I know that feeling. I am no Harriet Nelson and my life definitely isn’t a TV Land show. As a mother of three boys, I am well aware of how stressful raising children can be. There never seems to be enough time to do everything you need to do. I have gone to bed many nights knowing I had so many things left undone and feeling guilty that I let my kids down (again). I have juggled all the balls that you have to juggle as a working mom raising a family, and I know that sometimes, you just have to let some of them drop.
Some things are more important than others. We have to determine what our priorities are when it comes to raising our children. We need to determine the right balls to allow to fall to the ground. You may have to choose not to make the bed every day. You may have to turn off the TV for a long time. You may not be able to spend much time socializing on Facebook. You might see more loads of laundry lying around than you would like. The fact is, you can’t do it all without sacrificing some crucial lifestyle habits as a family. And because you picked up this book, you know that healthy lifestyle habits is something you need to work on. You can’t afford to sacrifice that any longer.
The amount of attention and care you invest in shaping your children’s nutritional and fitness choices charts the course for the rest of their lives. It really is a big deal.
Sometimes, Love Means Saying No
We love our children and would do anything for them. If we knew we were harming them in some way—perhaps by being lax in monitoring their health habits—wouldn’t we want to stop and start doing the right things?
I like what Jesus says about the nature of parents to give good things to their children: “If your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!” (Luke 11:11-12 nlt). The problem, however, is that our kids often ask for stuff that’s not good for them (like fast food). And we think we show them love when we give in and say yes.
But then what happens? When we allow our kids to be in charge of our decision-making, they become the boss. They take over our job. They become the parent. Obviously, a family won’t function well when children are running the house!
I know there are daily battles you fight with your kids. The trick is to pick your battles wisely. I want to challenge you to pick the battle of good health. This is a fight where you need to quit raising the white flag. You need to fight for the health of your children because this war really is a matter of life or death.
From the time our children are born, we try to give them the very best we can. We buy the best baby food and take them to the doctor any time they have the tiniest sniffle. We move to homes in the best school districts and sign them up for activities that we hope will grow them in some way, whether athletically or intellectually. We focus on doing all these things and more so that they have the best shot at a good life. In this hustle and bustle, sometimes we forget that the foundation of success is good health.
As parents, we have the power to ensure that our children do not fall prey to all the bad stuff that can result from being overweight and possibly even obese. These include conditions, illnesses, and diseases that can cripple them as they become adults. I want to talk about a few of them.
Silent Destroyers
According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, childhood obesity puts children on the path to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These are health problems that only adults used to suffer from. If you don’t pay attention to your child’s health now, you are essentially creating a breeding ground for these health issues as they get older.
Type 2 diabetes is an obesity-related illness that has drastically increased in children and teens. Diabetes is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar because the body can’t make enough or can’t properly use insulin. In order for your body to function optimally, your blood-sugar levels need to be in a particular target range. When the body isn’t producing enough insulin or the body isn’t processing it properly, this healthy range gets out of whack.
It’s tough to detect type 2 diabetes in children because many symptoms may be mild or nonexistent. A blood test is required to properly diagnose this disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children who have type 2 diabetes are generally between 10 and 19 years old, obese, and have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes.
This surge of diabetes in children and teens is attributed to lifestyle choices that lead to poor health. These include eating foods high in fat and calories (such as fast food), eating too much sugar (such as soda and candy), eating larger portions, and not getting enough exercise.
High blood pressure is another health condition that can result from being overweight. It affects only 3 percent of children and teens, according to the American Heart Association’s website. This may seem like a small number, but it has risen over the years and is attributed to a poor diet, excess weight, and an insufficient amount of physical activity. High blood pressure is a really big deal because if left untreated, it can lead to damage of the kidneys, brain, heart, and eyes.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. When a person has high blood pressure, there is a higher than normal pressure inside the arteries, and the heart has a harder time pumping blood throughout the body. When the heart has to work harder than it needs to, it puts stress on your heart and makes it more difficult to get the necessary blood to your vital organs.
High cholesterol is another health problem on the rise. High cholesterol is something we need to pay attention to because it can create a material called plaque that builds up on the walls of the arteries. Plaque can prohibit the blood from flowing through the arteries and can even cause a heart attack and stroke if left untreated.
Three factors cause high cholesterol levels in children—heredity, diet, and obesity (notice the trend?). Most children with high cholesterol have a parent with high cholesterol. If this condition runs in your family, get your child diagnosed if you suspect they might suffer from the illness. It’s easy to find out if this is the case. Just ask your pediatrician for a simple blood test. It’s also fairly simple to treat high cholesterol. You have to put your child on a healthy diet (basically eating natural foods that are low in fat and good for you) and an exercise program. Medication might be in order for severe cases.
More than Feeling Blue
Another side effect of childhood weight problems and obesity is low self-esteem and depression. Being overweight impacts not only a child’s physical body, it also impacts their emotional and mental states.
Childhood should be a time free of anxiety. It shouldn’t be a time when your child is worried and depressed about his weight. If you were an overweight child, as I was, you know how painful that experience can be.
There are many things we can’t control about our children, but one thing we can do something about is their weight. No one wants their child to be the last kid on the team picked to play kickball or an object of ridicule because of her size. No one wants their child to feel less-than or like a loser.
Our middle son, Pearson, was about 20 pounds overweight when we came home from the ranch. He was always a little shy and self-conscious when it came to those extra pounds. He is the most sensitive of our three children, and it pained me to know how bad he felt about himself. As I saw him get healthier when he lost the weight, I also saw his self-esteem blossom. As a mother, this was such a rewarding thing to witness.
Unhealthy Building Blocks Lead to Unhealthy Adult Habits
There are several more reasons why we need to take the health of our children seriously. One main reason is that an overweight child is much more likely to be an overweight adult. One study found that approximately 80 percent of children who were overweight between the ages of 10–15 years were obese at age 25. Another study reports that 25 percent of obese adults were overweight as children, and that if unhealthy weight gain starts before the age of 8, then obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.2 The idea that “a little baby fat never hurt anyone” is not true. It can hurt your child for the rest of his or her life.
Here’s something else to think about. Once your body creates a fat cell, it never gets rid of it. The fat cell can shrink as you lose weight, but it is always there available to be filled up. And fat cells generally are not created in a person’s body after puberty; the one exception is if an adult gains a considerable amount of weight. But for the most part, the number of fat cells a person has is determined in childhood. When kids become overweight, they create more fat cells than they would if they were at a healthy weight.
Fat cells also have memory. Once they have been full, they want to be full again. This is why once someone has been overweight, it becomes much more difficult for him to stay slim later in life. This is why it is so vital that we help our children get and stay healthy. We don’t want them entering adulthood with the propensity to store fat, be obese, and be generally unhealthy. We don’t want to create a disadvantage for them so early on.
Here’s another sobering fact. Childhood obesity more than doubles the risk of dying before age 55, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and conducted by Dr. William C. Knowler, chief of the Diabetes Epidemiology and Clinical Research Section of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
More Facts
The list of the dangers of childhood obesity is ever-growing. Extra weight on your child’s body can cause lung problems, leading to ailments such as asthma. Sleep apnea (a condition where your child has abnormal breathing patterns while sleeping) can be a complication of childhood obesity. Being obese can create hormone imbalances for your child that can cause puberty to start earlier than expected.
Extra weight can even affect the way your kid’s feet are formed. Did you know that flattened arches are often developed during childhood? An article in the June 21, 2010 edition of USA Today states that extra pounds can take a toll on feet, causing conditions such as flat feet, inflamed tendons, and sore feet. A spokesman for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons said, “The foot was made to carry the average body, of maybe up to 200 pounds. When you add 100 or 200 pounds, it overloads the tendons, the ligaments, and the bones.” While your child may not be 100 pounds overweight, any excess weight puts undue pressure on their feet. Likewise, Dr. Wendy J. Pomerantz of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found obese children had more leg, ankle, and foot injuries than normal-weight children.
When we say that obesity can affect you from the top of your head to the soles of your feet, we’re not kidding.
Is My Child Part of This Problem?
Is your child at risk of being overweight or even obese? How can you tell? Phillip and I like to evaluate healthy weight by using the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart.
BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height that is a reliable indicator of whether your child is overweight. It’s not foolproof, however, because it doesn’t take into consideration how much muscle a child has. Muscle weighs more than fat, and some kids naturally have more muscle than others. Also, the BMI chart can be a little skewed during periods of rapid growth. Still, it’s a generally solid guideline to use. The best way to get an accurate reading is to get a scale that measures body fat, weight, and hydration levels or make an appointment with your child’s doctor.
If you decide to calculate your child’s BMI on your own, you first need to take some measurements. Measure your child’s height and write it down. Then weigh your child and write that number down. Compare these numbers with the chart on the previous page or insert them into the handy BMI calculator on the Centers for Disease Control website (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/).
If you find that your child falls in the overweight or obese range, don’t waste time beating yourself up about it or blaming your poor parental skills. The key is to realize that starting today, you can change this number. You can change the way your family eats. You can change the way your family exercises (or doesn’t at all). You can even change your child’s health if she is suffering from weight-related conditions. You can make a difference.
Reading this book and working through the 90 challenges in Part 2 is a great first step. Make this a priority and read the challenges together as a family at the breakfast or dinner table, right before or after you help your children with their homework, or the first thing when they come home from school. Make these challenges a part of your routine to help your children understand that you are on their side and you want to help them be healthy.
Don’t judge or make your kids feel bad if they are overweight. Support them and let them know this is something you can conquer together. When I was a little girl, my grandmother would make negative comments about my weight all the time. She meant well, but it made me feel as if she didn’t approve of (or even like) me. Your child needs to know that you love her and support her in every area, including her journey to become healthy.
How to Make Change
As you read this chapter, you may have noticed a continual theme. Like a drumbeat, the words healthy eating and exercise sound over and over. Many life-threatening conditions can be prevented by making changes in our diet and in our level of activity. Why do we not do it? I believe three culprits prevent us from making these changes—time management, energy, and motivation.
We must take inventory of our time. You may think that you already have every single second scheduled to a tee and you have absolutely no extra time, but I bet you can adjust your schedule and incorporate small changes that will give you more time to spend on your health. You can cook food ahead of time so you always have a snack on hand to avoid the drive-thru window. Instead of throwing bags of chips or cookies in your children’s lunch box, pack a piece of fruit. Do homework with your child at the park, so after he or she is finished, you can run around and play together and squeeze in some physical activity. See what I mean? Making little changes in your routine can make a big difference.
What about energy? Many parents I know complain of not having enough energy to make health a priority. They are simply too tired. This is where you have to make sure that you are taking care of your health first so that you can help your family. (This is also the best way to role model healthy habits for your children. If you don’t do it, why should they?)
When you make time for exercise, you actually have more energy than when you are sedentary. I know this is true from personal experience. If I start my morning with exercise, I have tons of energy for the rest of my day. I turn into the Energizer Bunny. I just keep going and going and going.
Finally, sometimes we don’t make changes because we don’t have the motivation to change. But what is more motivational than our children? Our kids should be the biggest motivators in creating a healthy lifestyle at home. I don’t know of anything that can move me more than when I know my child has a need. I like to think one thing most parents have in common is a desire to see their children live long, healthy lives. And I believe you, as a parent, will do anything to give them a foundation for a great quality of life. So make the commitment to make change. Let them be your motivation to eat better and start moving more. We will be with you every step of the way!
How Healthy Are Your Kids?
Let’s find out how healthy your kids are. The quiz below is a great starting point for you as a parent to know what kind of commitment you will need to make to get the change-ball rolling. Circle your answers and tally your score.
My kids eat fast food…
a) once a week (2)
b) at least five times a week (3)
c) once or twice a month as a special treat (1)
d) every day (4)
When we do something together as a family, we like to…
a) go out to eat (4)
b) go to the movies (3)
c) do something active such as play sports or go hiking (1)
d) go to an amusement park (2)
The drink that my kids have most with meals is…
a) soda (4)
b) water (1)
c) milk (2)
d) juice (3)
My kids watch TV and play on the computer or video games…
a) an hour a day (2)
b) two hours a day (3)
c) three or more hours a day (4)
d) less than an hour a day (1)
My kids participate in regular exercise…
a) 30 minutes a day, five days a week (1)
b) an hour a day, three days a week (2)
c) once a week (if we’re lucky) (3)
d) never (4)
We eat dinner together as a family…
a) during major holidays (4)
b) once a week (2)
c) at least five days a week (1)
d) on weekends when we go to a sit-down restaurant (3)
If you scored:
6 to 12 points—Green light! All systems are go. You are traveling in the right direction as a family. As you read this book you will continue to learn more about great health.
13 to 18 points—Yellow light! Caution. On the way to trouble ahead. You can find your way to the path toward great health by reading how you can create a healthy family environment.
18 to 24 points—Red alert! You need to get your family in the “Challenge” ASAP! Don’t worry. Today can be the first day of your family’s journey toward a life of good health.
Whatever your score, in the following chapters we will equip you to make your family life not just happy but healthy. Whether it’s learning about the best foods to fuel your body or discovering creative ways of exercising as a family, the time to challenge yourself to be a healthy family is now. And the best place to start…is with you!
It's been a while since this blog got this award from Rovie of My Journey called Liebster Award. This tells me that this blog is one of Rovie's favourite blogs since the word Liebster is a German word meaning favourite or beloved. Thank you very much Rovie.
Part of the rule of accepting this award is to link back to the one who awarded it
to you (which I have already done) and to pass it along to five other bloggers who have less than 200
followers. And here are my five Liebster Blog Awardees :
Sharing My Thoughts by Perl - I like this blog because she blogs about her Sunday reflections and creative artwork which are really admirable.
Be A Lifesaver of Goodness by Sir Rob - I like this blog because of the updates he shares on health issues which are very relevant to everyday life.
Teecup Limited by Teecup - I like this blog because of the many tips and information Teecup shares for freelancers.
Arise Shine by Mommy Rubz - This is just a new blog but I think I will like it because of the encouraging Words Mommy Rubz is sharing about her Christian walk.
Food, Fashion and Fun by Jackie - I like this blog because of the simple recipes shared by Jackie which I can add to my existing menu.
Now, I know many people around the world anticipated the Awards night of the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant. But I would like to share with you another Award Winning, Life-Changing event that you may be interested to watch out for. It is the showing of the 180 movie, a documentary that was produced with the purpose of changing and saving lives. I believe this is one movie that our generation needs (even in the Philippines) especially in a society where pro-abortion is becoming so popular.
This is what Ron
DiCianni has to say about this movie,
“As one who was
scheduled to be aborted, this astounding video struck me at my core that
this is needed more now than ever. It is more than powerful...it is a
vehicle of God's voice to this generation, and must be seen!”
I hope the video trailer below about the 180 movie would encourage you to watch out for this movie. Visit www.180movie.com to watch the movie for FREE starting September 26, 2011.
Hello everyone especially to those who likes to join contests. I would just like to share with you 3 contests and giveaways online you can join. I can't join each one of them because I am not qualified to join some.
#1 This contest is for bloggers and non-bloggers alike residing in the Philippines.
For bloggers, if you join this contest, you may have the chance to win one of four Kodak Playsport Cameras from Johnson’s Baby Milk Bath! Simply post a picture of your child acting older with a caption that includes “my kid's growing up so fast...” Submission of entries is from September 9 - October 7, 2011.
For non-bloggers, you can win one or more gift baskets from Johnson's simply by commenting on a participating blogger's post. Commenting will begin October 7-21, 2011.
For the complete details of the contest “JOHNSON’s My Kid’s Growing Up So Fast Contest?” click to their contest page.
#2 This giveaway by Mommy Rubz is open to all bloggers. She has a new blog entitled Wandering Thoughts which is hosting a mini giveaway called “Welcome Me Mini Giveaway” as a way of introducing it to the blogosphere. Three bloggers who will join the contest may win $10.00 paypal credits. It just might be you. So, join now before the giveaway ends on September 23, 2011. Visit her contest page now.
#3 The third giveaway that you can join is Sulit High 5! You need to have a blog or a social network account that allows blog pages like Multiply or Friendster. Everybody is invited to celebrate with Sulit as they turn 5 years old. By participating in this online activity, you may be the blessed one to getone of the 5 iPad 2 units or a trip for 5 to Boracay that they are giving away!
Joining is easy. Just help spread the word about Sulit High 5! by posting their badge on your blog or social network. To get the code to the badge and submit your entry, click here to their contest page. Do read the other terms and conditions.
Filipinos are very much in demand when it comes to getting hired as virtual assistants, because of our ability to speak and communicate in English fairly well and the relatively lower fees that employers need to spend. Of course, as Filipino VAs, you should know how much you ought to get paid. Check out this blog post on how much a Filipino VA is paid working from home.
If you want to know more about this career on becoming a VA, there is a free seminar to be conducted by Chris C. Ducker of Virtual Staff Finder. You can know more about Chris in his blog VirtualBusinessLifestyle.com. The seminar will be at Berjaya Hotel Manila on Sept 10, 2011, Saturday 1-5 pm. Certificates will be distributed after the seminar. For more info, visit their the VSF fan page.
Now, if you miss that free training, then you may also be interested in joining Jomar Hilario's free webinar online call on September 14, 2011, Wed 8:00- 9:30pm (Philippine time). He will be interviewing Virtual Assistants. Get to know how other people started working from home, how they adjusted, what are their fears, how did they overcome them. Also, know how they landed their "jobs," what they do everyday, what
they liked about working from home and what they don't like about it. You can also ask any questions you wish to know about VA jobs. Register for this
free Online Seminar (or webinar) Call by registering and joining the Jomar Hilario Mastery group.
To give you an idea regarding the webinars Jomar Hilario is conducting. I've embedded one of his most recent webinars where he talks about 4 Ways to Earn From the
Internet. It is very informative and he does give really helpful
tips (something that I wish I knew before) about blogging and about VA jobs.
You have to know Filipino though to understand the video. I hope you find this video useful.
Do you like Mathematics when you were a young student? It is still one of the most important subjects that children should learn in school. I noticed that when my children were in Grade 1, they were already taught the principle behind multiplication and were asked to memorize the multiplication table from 1-5. By Grades 3-4, they should have memorized pretty well the multiplication table from 1-10.
Mathematics. Image by aleksandar milosevic
As a mom, I have experienced that my children would complain that it is difficult to memorize these Math facts. Let me share how I encourage them to memorize the multiplication table.
Tip #1: I would teach to them to count multiples in their head 2, 4, 6 ....adding to the last number by 2 mentally, for example. But I would tell them to say 2 x 1 = 2, 2 x 2 = 4, 2 x 3 =6 and so on. Otherwise, they might remember the multiples but not the multiplication question.
Tip #2: Another technique is as they say the multiples, they use their fingers to count. For example, when they say 2, they lift the pinky finger (starting from a fist); when they say 4, they now have 2 fingers lifted; when they say 6, they now have 3 fingers lifted. This way they remember that on the number 6, they are multiplying 2 x 3.
But when it reaches the multiples of 6-9, that is usually where it is the hardest. It becomes more difficult to add big numbers. One of my sons, Yuan, told me the other day, that he thought of a technique how he could memorize the multiples of 9 easily. I actually never thought of it that way. So the next tip originated from him.
Tip #3: He said, to find the multiples of 9, he subtracts (minus) 1 in the ones digit and adds (plus) 1 in the tens digit. So from 9, the next multiple is 9-1 = 8 in the ones digit and 0 +1 = 1 in the tens digit which makes 18. Then, 8 - 1 = 7 in the ones digit and 1 + 1 = 2 in the tens digit which makes 27 and so on. From that idea, to find the multiples of 8, minus 2 in the ones digit and plus 1 in the tens digit. To find multiples of 7, minus 3 in the ones digit and plus 1 in the tens digit.
Tip #4. I always tell them repetition is the key. If they don't get it the first time, they would get it after how many times. This develops also their patience. Once they have finally memorized the multiplication table, I hear them saying "Ang dali lang" (It's so easy), especially when the next sibling is complaining about the same thing.
Tip #5. Be there to hear them memorize if they ask for your help. Or, you may ask a sibling to listen to them as they memorize. This way, the other sibling is taught to help their brothers or sisters when studying.
Here's a video about using the Fingers for learning how to multiply by 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. My husband knew about this technique and told it to my children. It could help though memorizing the multiplication table is still by far the fastest.
Sometimes, learning through games and song can also be helpful. Starfall.com is a site which offers learning to read curriculum online for free. Now they also have a Math curriculum at more.Starfall.com but it's not for free. They have some sample lessons for free though and they look really great. There's also plenty to find in YouTube.
I hope this post was helpful to you who have children learning the multiplication table.
This is my entry to Techie She Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways Week 14. This week’s prize is $10 paypal credits from Sheila of Picture My World
I don't know how to design a logo. I don't have a creative mind and hand. But I do know that having a logo is so important when it comes to marketing an idea. Having a logo is more than just a picture. Take for example in the food business. Just one glimpse of the big M signage of McDonald's or the Jollibee logo and the kids will get excited and start shouting altogether McDonalds, McDonalds or Jollibee, Jollibee ... beckoning us to go in and eat.
McDonald's image by Alex Ling. Stock.xchng
When visiting a website, the logo or the header design including the overall website layout give the first impression about what the site is all about. If it draws a positive feedback, the visitor may come back. Of course, the content of the site is also a determining factor for revisits.
Where can one get logo designs? I've seen two sites that host logo design contests: 99designs.com and Freelancer.com. People who want to have their website or business logo designed can host a contest for a fee. By posting their logo requirements in these sites, they could get more competitive logo design ideas from freelancers instead of just one if they hire only one designer. And after they have chosen the design they want, they pay for or give the prize to the winning entry. (If you're a designer, you may want to check out the sites and join the ongoing contests.)
That is one way of finding someone to design your logo. But if you have an offline business, you need to find a company which provides not only high quality designs of corporate logos but also the craftsmanship to create corporate signs.
The article entitled "Marketing Your Company with Business Signs" mentioned that there are three things that should be kept in mind when creating business signs: the Message; the Placement; and the Consistency. Therefore, one needs to find a company like Impact Signs that has the reputation backed by 20 years of experience delivering customized products that promote their client's corporate message consistently and can give expert advice as to the proper placement and installation of any business signage.
Do you have any recommendation of a person or company which can provide quality logos and signage in the Philippines? Just in case I need one in the future.
House for sale. Image by Chris Holder from stock.xchng
We still don't have a house in the Philippines. Actually, we do but my husband bought it second hand and it's quite old and
there are many repairs needed. He said that instead of repairs, it would be better to just rebuild the house. I don't know
about that. We haven't thought and planned about it since we are living abroad. But with the recent news that prompted us to
prepare to go home, suddenly we are contemplating about it.
We could buy a house. We could ask friends about good buys especially houses facing foreclosures or look online at Sulit Real
Esate. Sulit Real Estate is an online marketplace for buying and selling real estate properties in the Philippines, much like
Zillow in the US.
But there are many things to consider. Can I/we afford a house? Here are some of my thoughts concerning buying and owning a house.
It would be better to pay cash, if one can afford it. You save money because you don't have to pay interests. Also, having to
pay borrowed money can be very stressful.
Rent to own properties or properties for sale that is provided in-house financing by the real estate developer may also be a
good option. Payments are staggered unlike the cash option, but interest is computed into the scheduled payments.
Many people do not have cash and may take a very long time to save the amount of money needed, so they borrow.
It is better to borrow from people like relatives and friends who are generous enough to lend you the money at zero or very
low interest. Of course, there may be a catch. So beware.
One can also opt to get a mortgage or a loan from the bank, insurance company or other lending institution. Beware of loan
sharks. In this agreement, the property will be used as security for the loan and when you fail to repay the mortgage on
time, the lender may take possession of the mortgage.
Before you get into any mortgage loan, you have to check out the different types of mortgage and rates of interest offered by
different providers of mortgages or loans. Some good features in Zillow are the available tools like mortgage calculators and mortgage
quotes house buyers can get quickly without having to give any personal information.
Most mortgages pay interest at a fixed rate throughout their term. But when the prevailing mortgage rates become lower than
what you are paying for, you may opt to refinance your mortgage in order to get lower rates. In the US, websites like MortgageRefinanceRates.org can
provide the needed information for refinancing mortgages. American Veterans can check out VA refinancing to save even more
dollars on their VA loan payments. In the Philippines, I'm not sure if there is a similar website offering such
information. It may be more legwork for those who want to check this option.
The bottom line is if you don't have cash right away, there are financial resources from which you can get some. But eventually, you
still have to come up with the needed cash, so careful planning is also needed. Otherwise, you may end up losing the property to foreclosure.
